Everyone loves making a fresh glass of smoothie, except when it comes to cleaning the blender. Sometimes you just don’t have the energy to disassemble every single part of the blender and clean it separately.
At times like these, a dishwasher is your best friend. But the question is, is Ninja blender dishwasher safe?
In short, it is. However, a lot goes on behind the process. There’s no doubt it’ll make your blender squeaky clean but it’s not worth it in the long run.
If you’re in a hurry, you can skip to the bottom but if you want to know what’s going on, buckle up-
Contents
Are Dishwashers Bad for Blenders?
It’s kind of like asking, is sugar bad for you? In a sense, sugar is not that beneficial for our body. But it does seem to make a lot of food taste better.
Nowadays, most manufacturers make sure their blenders are dishwasher-safe. And they’re not lying. The problem is it slowly degrades the build quality of the components.
Even though most parts are dishwasher-safe, NEVER think of putting the seals and the blades in the blade. Here’s why-
Mechanical Edge Damage
This one depends on your dishwasher. If the blades or jars can move around inside the dishwasher, then bad news for you. You might think those are micro-scratches but remember those scratches can grow in no time.
Thermal Degradation
It’s not like the dishwasher reaches 200-300°C degrees. But when the blades and parts stay at high temperatures(70-100°C) for a prolonged period of time, it can screw up the temper of the blades and other parts.
Corrosion
At the end of the day, Ninja blenders are affordable products. Sure, the blades do an excellent job of pulverizing everything that comes in its way. But it’s not made out of extra corrosion-proof materials like H1 steel or SM-100 alloy.
If they did, you’d know it by now. The hardened stainless steel is corrosion-proof to some degree. However, you will see rust on it at one point.
Is the Ninja Blender Dishwasher Safe?
Now, let’s talk about the real question. The short answer is yes. From personal blenders such as the Ninja BL480D to powerful all-in-one blenders like the Ninja BL770, all of them are dishwasher-safe.
I’ve already explained why dishwashers are bad for blenders. And if you’ve got a glass or plastic blender, it’s even more applicable to you.
You might think I’m against using dishwashers. It’s nothing like that, the truth is there’s an even better and easier(at least, to me) to clean blenders.
But we’ve all been there where you feel too lazy to disassemble every part and give it a good cleaning. And when you’re not lazy, you don’t have enough spare time.
In such cases, I’d say go ahead. Use the dishwasher all you want. Nevertheless, make sure you don’t make it into a habit. If you want your blender to last for a long time, start taking care of it.
How to Clean Ninja Blenders?
Nowadays cleaning blenders is not that hard. With the better build quality and compatible materials, it couldn’t get any easier. Let’s start with the dishwasher method and I’ll explain the self-cleaning method-
Method 1: Dishwasher
Step 1: Give the Jars and Cups a Quick Rinse
After you’re done blending your favorite smoothie, it’s time to clean the jar or cup. Before you toss it in the dishwasher, you should rinse away all the excess food particles.
If not, those will stay inside the dishwasher, stinking it up. On top of that, cleaning it right after will get rid of any smell.
Step 2: Put the Jars and Cups in the Dishwasher(Use the Top Rack)
Start putting all the parts in the dishwasher. However, make sure the jars are faced upside down. And of course, use the top rack.
This is something you should never forget. You see the jars or cups are made out of superior materials such as Tritan plastic or something in that area. But compared to that the lids are somewhat poorly made.
There’s a high chance of melting or warping if you put those anywhere other than the top rack. In fact, follow this for all plastic components you put in the dishwasher.
Step 3: Don’t Put the Blades in the Dishwasher
A lot of people seem to put the blades in the dishwasher. I’ve already explained how bad this can get for the blades. Unless you want to blades to lose their shape, start cleaning them manually.
Well, how do you do it in a safe manner?
Instead of getting your fingers near those razor-sharp blades, use a cleaning brush with a long neck. If the manufacturer didn’t include it, you could buy one from your local store for a few bucks.
Step 4: Air-dry the Blades and Parts
Most of the work is done. All that’s left is to air dry the components before storing them. But whatever you do never think of putting wet blades or other parts in cabinets.
Method 2: Self-cleaning
Step 1: Rinse the Jar and Cups to Remove Food Particles
Like before, give the jars and cups a quick rinse to wash away that wasted food residue. This step is kind of optional for dishwashers but for this method, you can’t avoid it.
Step 2: Add a few drops of Liquid Soap, Lemon and Start the Blender
Well, I missed one thing. It’s water. Along with the liquid soap and lemon, water is a must to get everything blended.
You can skip the lemon as it’s only to get remove any odor. Now, start the blender and keep it running for about 30 seconds.
Step 3: Wash it in the Sink
Throw away the liquid in the sink and wash it thoroughly. You don’t need any cleaning brush or anything, simple rinsing is more than enough.
Step 4: Let the Parts Dry Out
Well, I guess you don’t need any extra guidance in air drying blenders.
But What About the Motor Base?
When you think about it, the motor base does most of the work but it doesn’t get the attention it deserves. As a result, food particles clog up the motor at one point.
Luckily, cleaning the motor base is probably the easiest part-
- Unplug the blender before you start cleaning it. And it’s a no-brainer that you should never put it in the dishwasher.
- Take a damp cloth and wipe the motor base thoroughly. You could use a little vinegar or soapy water to remove stains. But make sure it doesn’t get inside the motor.
- Remember to wipe the cords when you’re cleaning. This is the perfect time to check if there are any cable damage.
Conclusion
Is Ninja blender dishwasher safe? Sure, it is. But should you wash it in the washer? Well, it’s okay if you do it sometimes and the manufacturer’s not against it.
However, it’s better if you make a habit of cleaning the blender manually.